Your Blogging Staff

Contributing to this blog:
- "Dave" is Dave Barry, who is a humor columnist and presidential contender.
- "judi" is Judi Smith, who is Dave's Research Department, as well as being interested in men.
- "Walter" is Walter, a bone from the penis of a walrus.

January 28, 2007

Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Lisa & Ducky, hurricane Andrew did that for me, but it amazes me how quickly I accumulate more stuff.

I got a bunch of stuff when my mom died, and it's been a challenge getting rid of stuff I don't want. I hate to throw stuff away; I'm NOT going to do a garage sale. Donating is the only option, but scheduling the pick-up...oy, they want me to wait for them ALL day.

I have 4 shopping bags of clothes I'm clear I'll never wear again sitting on the floor in my room.

daisymae, it doesn't take long to accumulate more, does it? We, too, have stuff of Mom's that I wasn't willing to part with, and an amazing amount of stuff stacked up since 1989. Not that I wish for another lightning strike, but...

daisymae, here in Austin we have organizations such as the Paralyzed Veterans who will pick up from your doorstep on a designated day; you just leave out your bags or boxes with the name of the organization on the bags, and they'll take 'em away for you. You don't even have to be there.

Casey -- congrats from all of us here in The House of Perpetual Remodel. After gutting both bathrooms (one at a time, of course) down to the studs/floor joists and starting over, even moving the door of one 4' to the right, and turning the former basement apartment into a home theater/bar/spare kitchenette/guest room, I am now looking at adding onto our kitchen.

Daisymae - there are plenty of non-profits that will take your clothes and give you a tax-break because of your donation. Battered Women's groups, Catholic Charities, Mental Health groups...look into it. You don't have to wait around, and you get a break on your taxes.

Pals, thank you so much for your support. I too, HATE shopping. I make the list then run & grab and out the door as quick as possible. I have had 2 boyfriends that actually complained because I wouldn't shop with them. Today, I did not actually buy lights, fans, etc., I only bought the stuff necessary for installing fixtures later. I bought the housing for the recessed lights and the track for the track lighting that will later support art glass pendants. Also, joist supports, 16 penny nails, electrical boxes, etc. So, not like I was out shopping for the latest trend in ceiling fans or whatever. I was shopping for necessities and I was/am still so excited I could pee my pants. Like someone said, (I believe AWBH), this represents PROGRESS and in my mind, I picture my beautiful, relaxing, wonderful new living room and know that I am one step closer.

Congrats, casey! I am filled with admiration for those who can do home remodeling without resorting to hiring a walking case of Contractor's Crack to finish the job for them. (Not that this has ever happened to me personally.)

I have at least a half-dozen dozen major home improvements I should undertake, which would greatly enhance the resale value of my home, and which would make it more in keeping with the general character of the neighborhood, but I'm too lazy busy to even consider starting any of them.

Not to mention that I really can't stand the idea of going, hat in hand, to beg the city for permission to work on my own freaking house. (I live in an Urban Planning Utopia, so you must get a permit for most everything.)

Yay, casey! Best of luck with the living room face-lift! We are currently embarking upon a cosmetic redo of the upstairs (kids/guest) bathroom--taping, floating, texturing, new lighting, countertop, sink, faucets, floor...when I say we, I mean Mr. Ducky.

How many rounds can a floozy imbibe
Before she has had too much scotch?
How many public catfights can she have
Before she is called firecrotch?
Yes and how many times can she mess up her life
And prove she's a total beeyotch?

I had my own Jolt 5 years ago, but it was called a divorce. Just took my clothes and my car and started over. Didn't want any of THAT stuff as reminders.

Teeheehee. He thought I was being nice leaving the 4500 sq ft house to clean for the kids' sake. {It was both} I don't think he has dealt, as our family portrait is still hanging over the fireplace and our wedding picture is on display in his office. {I think I just threw up in my mouth.}

I had a jolt like that, myself, long ago. It isn't any fun, but sometimes you just have to fold and find another game. My ex was an angry alcoholic, and I finally decided he wasn't going to change and I wasn't going to be able to save him. There are worse things than being single.

Me, too! People used to ask me how I was 'getting by' since my divorce. They also thought I had a facelift or something, since I looked about 10 years younger. They were stunned when I said I was doing great. I didn't just 'get by,' I freakin' bloomed!**results not typical of all divorces - your experience may vary - consult your doctor/therapist/attorney for details.

(Sorry, ladies, but as you all know, divorced and otherwise, one limitation of the male gender is we have one-track minds. Get us going in one direction and it's hard to change gears. Love us for what we are.)

Wakey! Since I'm up, I'll start the week with coffee, of course, And omelets. For fillins' we have cheese, (several kinds), bacon, ham, salmon, veggies (onion, pepper, broccoli, and asparagus) and crab. To counteract the cholesterol, although we all know that doesn't count because of the lecithin in the egg yolk, we have fresh fruit salad, and yoghurt with granola. Pick your pois(s)on...

Thanks, Med & Ducky! Missed ya'lls too. Annie, anyone who doesn't "get" your humor doesn't deserve you. (Just a note on the "I am woman" powerfest - damn right ladies. It is OK to be a single mom. Besides, I've learned to take the trash out AND change a light bulb. I think I'm showing my own daughters by example, that we can do well on our own...don't worry guys, we still love ya).

mm, I will have some fruit salad with a side of bacon and cheese omelet. Plenty of coffee too!

Carrying on from the girl power thread, I am forced to say that I'm mightily ashamed at my fellow men of the masculine persuasion for letting so many of you fine ladies slip through their grasp by not appreciating what they had in the first place. I won't apologise for them as I personally think think they must've been a bunch of Richard heads, and don't deserve to be counted as real men. Real men are not afraid to eat quiche.

Siouxie, my mom just called from marco saying that she was unable to get warm. she was freezing. said she had to put on a sweater and a long sleeved shirt. poor lil thing. when asked what the temperature was, she said,"oh, my god, it's only 58 degrees here now". i don't want to hear it. it's the whole way up to 20 degrees here.

WEATHER
I just consulted the thermometer, and it is 21F in my backyard. It is a balmy 55F in my living room.
(Because I think I was a polar bear in a previous life.
Because sweaters are cheaper than heating oil, and I'm a tightwad.
Because there isn't usually anyone home during the day.)
/WEATHER

There are still a few Real Men™ available. I work with... counting... one.

I've found that you gentlemen of the male persuasion are like heaters. Hardly ever cold and great to snuggle up to. Unlike many of us ladies of the female persuasion who tend to be cold. It's a match made in heaven. At night. Dring the day, it's a continual fight at the thermostat, rivalling the fight for the remote.

45 degrees here on the Highway to Vegas (I live in the middle of nowhere), but can I request a Carnation Instant Breakfast? As a kid, I read that it was like eating 4 strips of bacon, and two eggs, but I could never find them in the package. But how do you make eggs taste like chocolate?

Weighing in on the man thing....I have made bad choices. I am not bitter. Since divorcing almost 10 years ago (talk about a REALLY bad choice) I have had 3 relationships lasting 2 or more years each. I learned so much from each one. I've learned things about myself, things about men in general, and things about life. Even tho each man broke it off with me, (two because of other women), I have maintained close relationships with each. Most of all, I laughed. I laughed and laughed and laughed. At them, at myself and with them. I choose to be alone right now and I'm still laughing at and with life. Sometimes I really miss that inside joke where you can just look at your partner and know exactly what they are thinking, but overall, I'm very happy. I get very irritated at my friends who comment that I "need a man". I find that my male friends are more likely to tell me this than my female friends. There ARE good men out there, some of them aren't even attached! I just choose not to be with one right now! I bet Annie and Siouxie would agree with me.

Anywho, I would like a toasted poppy seed bagel with extra cream cheese, please and thank you.